Review: Mockingjay

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Published: August 24th 2010 by Scolastic Press
Genre: Young Adult/Dystopian

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

 

 

 

I guess there´s no need to tell you that I started reading Mockingjay as soon as I got my hands on it. This will be a rather short review, as I´m trying to avoid any spoilers for all of you who haven´t read it yet

With Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins achieves what few authors ever achieve: each book is an improvement to the previous book, even though this seems hardly possible. once again, you dive right into Katniss world right after the very first sentence. If you thought the world of Panem was a desperate and gloom place before, wit until you read Mockingjay. The brewing rebellion of Catching Fire has become a full blown war. What I´ve always admired about Suzanne Collins as an author is her ability to create such deep, powerful and atmospheric scenes that always captivate you and put you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I also loved her use of First Person POV in her whole Trilogy, as all the emotions are even better transported and so much more personal through the eyes of Katniss.

Just like in the previous books, the characters we know change, evolve and grow and not always is the change for the better. It is however in every case masterfully written and skilfully designed by Suzanne Collins.

In the first part of the book, Katniss has to come to term both with her new surroundings and the role the rebels have designed for her. She definetly grows in this book, in every aspect: she grows up even more, grows into her role as Mockingjay (once she accepts it) and face/voice of the rebellion, but as the story goes on, she also grows slightly insane due to all the things she sees, does and has to suffer from. Some might argue that Katniss seems to be cold and unfeeling when it comes to her love interests, but I guess you always have to keep in mind the things she has gone through. No could come out of something like that undamaged.

Especially Gale changes in my opinion more to he negative. His sympathy for the rebels and their cause has always been known, but Mockingjay portrays him as someone who becomes rather ruthless.

I don´t want to give away too much about the story, but as always, it´s gripping, surprising and captivating.

Even though Mockingjay is a Young Adult book, Suzanne Collins is not afraid to picture war with all its cruelties. Also, just like in the previous books, the underlying social criticism and political issues send a message that can´t and should not be forgotten. This book seems to pose the moral question of “How far can you go in a war before you become what you fight?”.

These two aspects however make me doubt the recommendation of th German amazon page, which recommends it to kids from the age of 12.

The end was not how I would have wished it to be but it is nonetheless the fitting and right end for it. It´s not a Happily Ever After, but not as horrible as it could have been.

Real or not real, Mockingjay is the perfect end for a remarkable, astonishing and thouroughly brilliant series? Definetly true. For me, it´s one of one of the best YA series I´ve ever read.

5 of 5 points from me!